Ngor Okpala TC boss warns health workers, don’t pocket revenue

Hon Charles Abara, chairman of the Interim Management Committee, Ngor Okpala Local Government Area, has warned health workers manning primary health centres in the council against pocketing revenue accruing to government from the facilities, saying government is no longer prepared to fold its arms and watch its legitimate accruals diverted to private pockets.
The chairman, who, spoke at the local government headquarters, Umuneke during a meeting with health workers in the council, added that the council management having decided to embark on rehabilitation and upgrade of health centres across the council, is also looking forward to generating revenue from the facilities, to enable it execute other developmental projects for the people.
Hon Abara, who was accompanied to the meeting by the Director of Administration and General Services in the council,DAGS, Sir Henry Chukwuka, Supervisor for Health, Hon Chinonso Amaliri, Head of Department of Health, Mrs Agatha Njoku and the Treasurer, among other functionaries, decried the very poor revenue accruing to the council from that department, alleging that the problem can be traced to lack of commitment and diversion of revenue by unscrupulous elements among the workers.
He wondered why government is getting little or nothing from the centres including from grade A facilities, even when there are reports that people patronize them in the absence of alternative healthcare facilities.
The IMC chairman called on those who indulge in the acts of diverting revenue and patients to their private pockets and clinics do desist forthwith as the government has set machinery in motion to tackle the unprofessional conduct, adding that he will not hesitate to invoke disciplinary measures against any worker caught indulging in them.
While ordering the DAGS of the council and HOD Health to embark on swapping of workers in all the health centres as a first step in the effort to sanitize the system, Hon Abara noted that workers in the sector have no reason to sabotage government in view of their handsome salary package.
Hon Abara also frowned against what he identified as neglect of the ethics of the health care which emphasizes saving life first as well as the patient being the focal point of health providers, insisting that the workers should do away with unethical conducts, so as to serve patients well.
The TC boss, while noting that the many challenges besetting the civil service at the moment can be traced to the maladministration of the past government of Sen Rochas Okorocha which not only paid fifty percent salary to local government workers but, equally denied them of working tools, pointed out that given the restoration of their full salary and provision of conducive working environment, workers are now duty bound to reciprocate government gestures.
Adding her voice, Head of Department of Health, HOD, Mrs Njoku said that the chairman hit the nail on the head in his speech, admitting negligence and unprofessional conduct on the part of some workers, assuring however, that she is poised to address such excesses.
She noted that transfer was a necessary part of civil service law which every worker is duty bound to obey when directed to, however pleaded with the management to allow the workers conclude health activities lined up for this month as any sudden change may negatively affect the exercises.
On his part, Sir Chukwuka, called for a change of attitude to work on the part of the workers, stressing that with the high level of unemployment in the country today, those fortunate to be in service should strive to protect their jobs.
In his vote of thanks, the Supervisor for Health, Hon Amaliri announced that he will soon embark on tour of primary health centres in the LGA to see things himself, adding the decision is in furtherance of the IMC chairman’s efforts to sanitize and reform the sector.